Summer holidays begin with the launch of ‘Shared City Manifesto’ to keep York residents and tourists in harmony  

York St John University’s Institute for Social Justice partners with Good Organisation on project to amplify residents’ voices

As Europe sees a wave of anti–tourism protests, academics and community groups have teamed up to safeguard York against becoming such a flashpoint. York St John University’s Institute for Social Justice and Business School have partnered with Good Organisation, a York Community Interest Company, to work with residents on a Shared City Manifesto. This is a list of suggestions from residents to ensure that tourism in York is managed in a sustainable way that benefits everyone, including local people.

The manifesto was launched this week at an event at Spark York, along with a new report and documentary highlighting concerns and suggestions by York residents. The team also announced the creation of a York Residents Tourism Assembly. 

Last month, a new 8-year tourism strategy for York was officially adopted by the City of York Council. This work is in parallel to that, as the residents assembly will directly contribute to the city’s strategic approach via the York Tourism Advisory Board.

Funded by a Community Research Grant from the Institute for Social Justice, researchers spoke to residents about their views on tourism. Local people acknowledged that tourism makes a positive contribution to the city, but also highlighted negative effects including overcrowding, anti-social behaviour, traffic and increased costs. The history of residents’ involvement in discussions about tourism in the city was also examined, as participants felt that residents’ needs were considered less than the needs of tourists.

Some residents’ quotes from the report:

• “The focus on tourism in York is overshadowing the needs of residents, diminishing our quality of life and the city’s unique character.”
• “York feels more like a theme park now, especially on weekends.”
• “Despite York’s affluence, tourism benefits aren’t equally distributed, and residents don’t see improvements in their quality of life.”
• “The rise of Airbnb’s is making housing unaffordable and disrupting community cohesion in York.”

The report then looks at sustainable, community-led tourism around the world from as far afield as Canada and Sweden, focusing on how ideas could be implemented in York. Key recommendations from the report included: residents’ representation on the tourism advisory board; investment in community owned assets; and that the implementation of a tourist tax should be explored.

Suggestions for change from the Shared City Manifesto:

1. Community-Owned Event Space Civic leaders to facilitate access to community-owned event spaces offering  a range of cultural and affordable  activities for both residents and tourists.
2. Resident-Led Festivals Create opportunities for York’s residents to develop and deliver festivals, attracting both locals and visitors.
3. Community-Owned Pubs Enable residents to purchase and manage community-owned pubs, promoting local ownership over chain establishments.
4. Community-Owned Farms/ Allotments Encourage residents to purchase and run community-owned farms. Promote local produce to the hospitality sector to enhance the use of locally grown products.
5. FairBnB Model Introduce a model like FairBnB to generate funds for community-led initiatives and mitigate the negative impacts of tourism.
6. Improved Transport Links Establish a community-owned bike hire shop as part of better transport links for both residents and tourists.
7. Connect Communities with Tourism Involve residents in local markets and events aimed at tourists.
8. Rethink Student Accommodation Utilise student accommodations out of term time for co-living and hybrid accommodation.
9. Tourism Levy Introduce a ring-fenced tourism levy to address the negative impacts of tourism, allowing residents to influence its allocation.
10. Transparency in Property Ownership Provide access to information about property ownership in York.
11. Support Independent Shops Stimulate opportunities for independent shops to attract both visitors and residents.
12. Creative Collaborative Spaces Create affordable spaces for creative collaboration and artist studios to diversify York’s attractions.
13. Local Economic Plan Ensure residents have a voice in shaping local economic development which prioritise the planet and the people.

Kenny Lieske from Good Organisation said: “Over the past year we’ve partnered with York St John University to gain a deeper understanding of how York’s success as a visitor destination can benefit local residents.

“Our research went beyond impersonal surveys, and we actively engaged with local people, through a series of facilitated community conversations with a diverse range of residents. The participants contributed a wealth of interesting and positive ideas to enhance tourism which we’re putting forward as our Shared City Manifesto.

“The future success of York’s visitor economy depends on the active involvement and voices of local residents. Their intimate knowledge and unique perspectives of the city will not only shape and improve the future of tourism, but also ensure that everyone who lives in York benefits from its continued success.”

Dr Brendan Paddison, Associate Professor and Interim Dean of York Business School, and Chair of the York Tourism Advisory Board said: ““York’s new tourism strategy will transform York’s approach to tourism, ensuring the city becomes a world-leader in regenerative tourism, that it grows and diversifies its offer responsibly, and that the city maximises tourism’s contribution to the economy, employment and the quality of life in York and beyond.

“This is a tourism strategy for the city of York and its success hinges on the spirit of collaboration.

“The insights and conclusions from this research project will directly inform the implementation of the tourism strategy to maximise the contribution tourism can make to the residents of York. The proposed residents assembly will play a key role in enabling residents to actively contribute to the development of tourism in the city, ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach.”

Read the full research report and Shared City Manifesto, and watch the documentary on the Outside Influence website.

If you’d like to get involved in York Residents Tourism Assembly, then you can email mail@goodorganisation.co.uk to find out more information.